Finding My Voice Through Language

As I sat in my sophomore English class, listening to my teacher read excerpts from some of the most acclaimed literature pieces, I felt an overwhelming feeling of inspiration that I had never felt before. I had always loved reading and writing, but in that moment, it hit me that I wanted to pursue English as a career.

Growing up, I was constantly surrounded by books, which made it easy for me to develop a deep love for literature. My parents would take me to the library every week, and my dad would read books to me before bed every night. As I grew older, my passion for reading evolved into a love for writing. I started writing stories and poems, and I even wrote a play that was performed by my drama class in middle school.

When I was a child, I was a voracious reader. I devoured books on a daily basis, always on the lookout for my next literary adventure. This love for literature was cultivated by my mother, who always had a book in her hand and was eager to share her latest discovery with me. As I grew older, I began to see the beauty in the written word and the power it had to inspire and move people. It was then that I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in English.

The event that solidified this decision occurred during my sophomore year of high school. I was taking an AP English class, and our teacher assigned us to read and analyze the works of Shakespeare. I was apprehensive at first, as I had always found the Bard's language to be dense and difficult to understand. However, as I delved deeper into the plays, I began to see the beauty and complexity of the language and characters.

One day, we were discussing a scene from "Hamlet" in which the titular character delivers his famous soliloquy. As we dissected the language and meaning behind the words, I was struck by the sheer power and emotion that Shakespeare was able to convey through his writing. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to studying and understanding the complexities of literature.

Since that day, I have been working towards my goal of becoming an English major. I have taken every literature class that my school offers and have participated in book clubs and writing workshops. I even started my own blog where I review books and share my thoughts on different literary topics. I started researching colleges and universities with great English programs, and Smith College immediately caught my attention. The school's reputation for providing a rigorous and comprehensive liberal arts education, along with its outstanding English program, made it my top choice.

Smith's English program has a diverse range of courses that cater to different interests, from creative writing to literary theory. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to study the works of feminist authors such as Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, and Toni Morrison, whose works I have admired for years. I am also drawn to the close-knit community at Smith, where I can learn and grow alongside like-minded individuals who share my passion for literature.

I believe that an English degree from Smith College will provide me with the necessary skills to pursue my dream of becoming a writer and editor. I want to contribute to the literary world by creating works that will inspire others, just as my favorite authors have inspired me. I am excited about the prospect of studying at Smith College and the possibility of contributing to the college's dynamic community.